2007 - part 2
Ok, here's my musings on film, music, books, etc, of 2007.
Loved Inland Empire, Hot Fuzz, Ratatouille, There Will Be Blood, and Knocked Up (although it's on the brink - it might've been even funnier if it were shorter)
I loved the experience of seeing Grindhouse in theatres, but it's not great. I would probably put Death Proof on really liked, though, if only for the acting.
Really liked Once, Sweeney Todd, The Host, Ira and Abbey (this movie gave me a lot of pleasure), Eastern Promises, Juno, Superbad, and Bug.
Partially enjoyed (ie, didn't hate) Walk Hard, Across the Universe, Stardust, 28 Weeks Later, Bridge to Terebithia, Romance and Cigarettes, Beowulf, Southland Tales, and The Simpsons.
Hated 3:10 to Yuma, Shoot Em Up, Live Free or Die Hard, 1408, Blades of Glory, Next (although parts of it were HILARIOUS), Sicko, Evan Almighty, Harry Potter, etc., a bunch of movies I've already forgotten.
I'd like to see Away From Her, Fay Grim, Gone Baby Gone, No Country for Old Men, Rescue Dawn, Paprika, Life of Reilly, I'm Not There, and Zodiac.
I'm seeing Atonement tomorrow.
My personal cinematic find of 2007: John Cassavetes. I'm not sure if I wrote about him on lj, but anyone who's talked to me in the past few months know that I've become newly obsessed with his works. I blame it all on Ray Carney's excellent book, Cassavetes on Cassavetes. His stuff speaks to me, especially as a student of acting and directing. But anyone who is interested in life or art should check out his movies. And read that book. It's 600 pages long, and I finished it in a week cause I could not put it down. Seriously, check it out of the library or something.
As far as TV shows go, Veronica Mars sadly was cancelled. 30 Rock, happily, got a second season. I continue to love The Office, Battlestar Galactica, House, Bones, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, How I Met Your Mother, Boston Legal, and Eureka (even though I didn't enjoy the second season as much as the first.) I now love Flight of the Conchords, Pushing Daisies and Life (the latter thanks to Bridget.) I still enjoy Heroes, and I like Chuck, but neither are really that great (or ever were, in the case of Heroes), IMO.
In books, I discovered Paul Auster, starting with his New York Trilogy. I highly recommend this book - it's meta detective fiction at its best. I met Ethan Mordden, whose books I love. I mostly read non-fiction about theatre and movies, but I'm always on the lookout for good fiction as well.
And of course, I only listen to musicals. Well, there is one album I would recommend to everyone - Klea Blackhurst's Vernon Duke album, "Autumn in New York." I can't describe the joy that listening to this album brings to me - great music, interpreted by a beautiful jazz singer. I also liked Jane Monheit's new album, Surrender, and I was very happy I got to see her in the city. (Also, seeing Melissa Errico live for the first time since Sunday in the Park with George was AMAZING! I love her so much.)
I could write an entry about all the cast albums that I've first heard this year and loved, but who would want to read that? So I guess this wraps it all up. Happy 2008, and I hope that this year brings as many wonderful surprises and happy coincidences as 2007 did.
Loved Inland Empire, Hot Fuzz, Ratatouille, There Will Be Blood, and Knocked Up (although it's on the brink - it might've been even funnier if it were shorter)
I loved the experience of seeing Grindhouse in theatres, but it's not great. I would probably put Death Proof on really liked, though, if only for the acting.
Really liked Once, Sweeney Todd, The Host, Ira and Abbey (this movie gave me a lot of pleasure), Eastern Promises, Juno, Superbad, and Bug.
Partially enjoyed (ie, didn't hate) Walk Hard, Across the Universe, Stardust, 28 Weeks Later, Bridge to Terebithia, Romance and Cigarettes, Beowulf, Southland Tales, and The Simpsons.
Hated 3:10 to Yuma, Shoot Em Up, Live Free or Die Hard, 1408, Blades of Glory, Next (although parts of it were HILARIOUS), Sicko, Evan Almighty, Harry Potter, etc., a bunch of movies I've already forgotten.
I'd like to see Away From Her, Fay Grim, Gone Baby Gone, No Country for Old Men, Rescue Dawn, Paprika, Life of Reilly, I'm Not There, and Zodiac.
I'm seeing Atonement tomorrow.
My personal cinematic find of 2007: John Cassavetes. I'm not sure if I wrote about him on lj, but anyone who's talked to me in the past few months know that I've become newly obsessed with his works. I blame it all on Ray Carney's excellent book, Cassavetes on Cassavetes. His stuff speaks to me, especially as a student of acting and directing. But anyone who is interested in life or art should check out his movies. And read that book. It's 600 pages long, and I finished it in a week cause I could not put it down. Seriously, check it out of the library or something.
As far as TV shows go, Veronica Mars sadly was cancelled. 30 Rock, happily, got a second season. I continue to love The Office, Battlestar Galactica, House, Bones, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, How I Met Your Mother, Boston Legal, and Eureka (even though I didn't enjoy the second season as much as the first.) I now love Flight of the Conchords, Pushing Daisies and Life (the latter thanks to Bridget.) I still enjoy Heroes, and I like Chuck, but neither are really that great (or ever were, in the case of Heroes), IMO.
In books, I discovered Paul Auster, starting with his New York Trilogy. I highly recommend this book - it's meta detective fiction at its best. I met Ethan Mordden, whose books I love. I mostly read non-fiction about theatre and movies, but I'm always on the lookout for good fiction as well.
And of course, I only listen to musicals. Well, there is one album I would recommend to everyone - Klea Blackhurst's Vernon Duke album, "Autumn in New York." I can't describe the joy that listening to this album brings to me - great music, interpreted by a beautiful jazz singer. I also liked Jane Monheit's new album, Surrender, and I was very happy I got to see her in the city. (Also, seeing Melissa Errico live for the first time since Sunday in the Park with George was AMAZING! I love her so much.)
I could write an entry about all the cast albums that I've first heard this year and loved, but who would want to read that? So I guess this wraps it all up. Happy 2008, and I hope that this year brings as many wonderful surprises and happy coincidences as 2007 did.